point about the danger in going to Ember alone. And if there was anything I’d learned while in Lilith’s lair, it was that I wasn’t invincible.
My impulsive actions had nearly cost me my life. I didn’t intend to make the same mistake twice.
“Where am I supposed to go?” I asked. “My home is gone.”
“You know you always have a home here,” Mary said.
“Thank you. But I can’t stay here.”
She didn’t look surprised by my answer. “Why not?”
“Because I want to be the strongest vampire I can be. The only way to do that is by drinking human blood.”
Part of the deal of living in the Haven was that the vampires agreed to survive on animal blood. I supposed it was noble of them. But it made them weaker.
And I refused to be weak.
“I understand,” Mary said with a kind smile. “And I agree that you likely wouldn’t be happy living in the Haven. But the offer is always there.”
I sighed, thinking of my home once again. I’d give anything to go back. As a high witch of Utopia, I had a place and purpose there. I had family. I had friends.
Now, I had nothing.
“Why are we bothering debating this?” Raven cut in. “The answer’s obvious.”
“It is?” I perked up, ready for anything.
“Of course.” She smirked. “You’re powerful. You’re unique. You want to become the strongest version of yourself, and you want to kill the demons as much as the rest of us. Which means you belong in Avalon, so you can get the best training in the world and join Avalon’s Army.”
16
Gemma
We took the horses that had belonged to the dark mages and fae, and set off across the continent.
Thanks to Ethan’s knowledge of the land, we didn’t encounter anyone on our journey. Ember was mainly desert—not very hospitable to life—so the Dark Allies didn’t roam far from their kingdoms. And the dragon kingdom wasn’t far from the portal—only a day and a night by horse, with the horses going as quickly as possible.
Eventually, we rode so far that we reached the ocean.
Ethan stopped his horse in a cove that reminded me of my cove at home. “We’re here,” he said.
I looked around, confused. Ethan hadn’t told us much about the dragon kingdom, in case we encountered any issues along the way. Meaning, in case any of us got taken by the dark mages or fae. He couldn’t risk the Dark Allies discovering the dragon kingdom’s location.
“There’s nothing here,” Mira said.
“Which is exactly what the Dark Allies think.” He jumped off his horse and led it toward the entrance to a cave carved into the cliff. “And what we want them to believe.”
We followed him inside, only having to walk about half a kilometer before reaching a pool of water. The inside of the cave would have been pitch black to humans, but thanks to our supernatural vision, it was like walking outside on a night when the moon wasn’t shining. Dark, but doable.
Ethan stopped near the water and tied his horse to a rock. “Here’s the entrance.”
The cave didn’t continue farther.
My attention went back to the water, and my chest tightened. “You’re not saying…” I trailed off, unable to say it out loud.
“The dragon kingdom is underwater.” Mira apparently had the same thought as me.
“Yes,” Ethan said.
“How far underwater?” I asked.
“About three kilometers.”
I stepped back until my palms pressed against the cave wall. The warm energy of the solid rock calmed my racing heart, helping me think clearly.
“How are we supposed to get down there?” I asked.
“We have powerful water elementals who keep watch through the water. They’re able to watch the entrance of the pool as if gazing through a looking glass,” Ethan explained. “They can hear through the water, too.”
“Cool,” Mira said. “I want to learn how to do that.”
“It’s advanced water magic. But I’m sure you’ll master it in time.”
She smiled at his belief in her.
“So they’ll be able to hear us,” I said. “Then what?”
“They’ll send water elementals to get us,” he said. “It’ll be fine. You’ll see.”
I watched the water warily. I had no doubt we’d survive, but I couldn’t imagine the journey down kilometers of water as being anything but terrifying. All of that water closing in around us, ready to drown us at any moment…
I shuddered at the thought of it.
This must have been what Mira felt like when we were in the underground kingdoms.
And we weren’t even down there yet.
“What about the horses?” I asked.
“Water elementals will come up and bring